Writing and photography by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Izzy at the Capitol August 12, 2017

HER MAMA ONCE WORKED in the state office building next to the Minnesota State Capitol. Izzy, at 16 months, is too young to understand. But, on Friday, she was among Minnesotans celebrating the grand opening of the Capitol following a multi-year $310 million restoration.

Oh, where’s Izzy? Pun intended. Photos by Amber Schmidt.

When her mama, my eldest, sent photos of Izzy playing among the #ONLY IN MN letters on the front lawn, I just had to share the cuteness.

The rest of the weekend is jam-packed with activities ranging from concerts to tours to ongoing activities for families. Will I be there? No. I’m not a fan of mega crowds in the metro, plus lots is happening locally and I’m preparing for a family reunion.

The stunning Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo from my last visit in 2009.

So “The People’s House,” as the Capitol is being promoted to all of us, will have to wait. I last toured the Capitol in 2009, when Amber worked next door. Prior to that, I’d only been there once, on a sixth grade class trip.

It’s a beautiful building. With the renovations, the first since the Capitol was built in 1905, I expect it to be even more stunning.

Some day my granddaughter can look back at these photos and hear the stories her mama tells about their trip to the Capitol on August 11, 2017…and how she cared more about a live owl than the Capitol restoration.

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18 Responses to “Izzy at the Capitol”

My perspective of the capital is a bit different than most. I recall Kafkaesque hearings when members of the house, aroused from their daze, would ask questions that could easily have come from Planet Zork.

We called it, “The Puzzle Palace.”

Still, it is a beautiful and inspiring building, one that inspires with the realization that wisdom is the product of a lot of hard work – tempered by stupidity.

There are two things a person should never see being made: sausage and laws.

What a cute photo! I don’t care for mega crowds either. I’ll be traveling to the cities Friday with my other half to see a Minnesota Lynx game. A little outside my comfort zone. I’d rather be on the back roads taking photos of barns and horses and abandoned houses with long forgotten dreams. Thanks for your blog post!